Due to a decrease in the demand for the H1N1 flu vaccine among the priority groups, the vaccine is now available to the general public, those six months old and over, including the elderly, public health officials announced last week.

The vaccine had previously been restricted to those in the priority groups which included pregnant women, people six months to 24 years old, adults ages 25-64 with chronic health problems, caregivers of an infant less than six months old and health care and emergency personnel.

Tammy Burdeaux, district clinical nursing director, East Central Health District, said, “This is a great opportunity now for those who have wanted the H1N1 vaccine to get it. We will still focus our attention on the priority groups simply because they are the ones who have had the most hospitalizations and deaths. However, with the announcement of expanding the vaccine outside of the priority groups, we expect to see more people, especially the elderly, wanting to get the H1N1 flu shot.”

The Jenkins County Health Department reports that it has a plentiful supply of the vaccine available.

As of last week, Georgia had been allocated more than 2.5 million doses and has ordered more than 2.1 million.

Nationally, spread of the H1N1 flu seems to be dropping.